Establishment of the Clinical Research Roundtable

Changes in the health care system have presented challenges to the conduct of clinical research in academic health centers. A summit on this topic was held during 1998 and 1999 by the AMA, AAMC, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. One recommendation was for an ongoing process to monitor investment and support of clinical research through the establishment of a Clinical Research Roundtable (CRR). Similar to other roundtables established by elements of the National Academies, the CRR would provide a forum for discussion among a wide variety of involved stakeholders to enhance mutual understanding of and support for high quality clinical research. Foundation funds will provide partial support for staff salaries, meeting and travel expenses of the CRR members, and publication costs of summaries of CRR-sponsored workshops and conferences. The Roundtable will be appointed by the Institute of Medicine and Commission on Life Sciences of the National Academies, in Washington, D.C.